Avandia Lawsuit Heart Attack Attorney
Actos and Avandia Double Fracture Risk in Diabetes Patients
Category: Avandia Side Effects
A new study that analyzed over 12 years of data from the UK suggests that the diabetes drugs Avandia and Actos may double or even triple the likelihood of a bone fracture in diabetes patients. Swiss researchers compared about a thousand patients who suffered fractures with 3,728 matched patients who did not experience fractures. The results were troubling to say the least.
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GSK to Cut Jobs in Wake of Avandia Problems
Category: Other Avandia News
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced that they will be cutting jobs at its Zebulon, North Carolina manufacturing plant. The news comes in the wake of lower than expected profits for 2007. The company will forfeit $1.4 million in incentives by cutting jobs at the plant. The incentives were part of an agreement with the state to invest at least $92 million in the plant and create 200 jobs by 2009. The Zebulon plant, one GSK's largest, will no longer be filling vacancies will be letting contract and temporary workers go first. Layoffs may quickly follow. The plant is responsible for the packaging of Avandia and with the demand nearly cut in half over the past several months it is understandable that GSK cannot employ the same amount of people to perform only half of the work.
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Another Lawsuit Filed Over Avandia
Category: Avandia Side Effects
On Tuesday another lawsuit filed against pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) over the diabetes drug Avandia. The suit alleges that 59-year-old Pat Kelly developed heart problems and eventually had to undergo bypass surgery as a result of taking Avandia. The once blockbuster medication has recently been linked to a substantial increased risk in heart failure, heart attack and stroke. This one of several lawsuits that have been filed over the last several months claiming that GSK failed to adequately warn patients taking the drug of the serious potential side effects. The company is standing behind the drug and says that they will defend against any litigation.
Avandia Study Leaked Before Publication
Category: Other Avandia News
A Texas researcher has admitted that he leaked a copy of the now infamous New England Journal of Medicine article that tied Avandia to an elevated heart risks. Steven Haffner of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio conceded that he faxed a pre-publication copy of the report to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the makers of Avandia, 17 days before the article was published. Haffner claims that the act was gratuitous and that he received no compensation and was not persuaded in any way by GSK representatives to share the privileged information. Sen. Chuck Grassley is leading the investigation in to the incident.
Avandia Gets New Warning From Experts in EU
Category: Avandia Heart Attack
Today European regulators added new warnings for GlaxoSmithKline's type-2 diabetes drug Avandia. The warnings recommend that patients with heart disease or leg pains should not take the drug. People who suffer from angina or who have had heart attacks are also advised to not take Avandia.
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Report Puts Excess Avandia Heart Attacks at 83,000
Category: Avandia Heart Attack
A November report by the Senate Finance Committee, based on the analysis of Avandia by FDA scientists, estimates that Avandia has caused around 83,000 excess heart attacks since coming on the market in 1999. The statistics were presented at a July 30, 2007, safety panel meeting of experts to decide if Avandia should remain on the market. The panel did recommend that Avandia Remain on the market, but hit the type-2 diabetes medication with strictest warning the can issue, the infamous "black box" warning.
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Avandia Hit With Another Wrongful Death Suit
Category: Other Avandia News
On Monday of this week the family of now deceased Milagros Larosa, 65, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline, the makers of the once blockbuster Avandia. The lawsuit alleges that GlaxoSmithKline liable for the death of Larosa due to their negligence, fraud, breach of warranty, and a their failure to adequately warn about the risks associated with Avandia.
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Yet Another Study Finds Elevated Heart Attack Risk for Avandia
Category: Avandia Heart Attack
Over the past several months the controversy surrounding the popular type-2 diabetes medication Avandia has been building. An article published in May suggested an 42 percent increased risk of heart attack associated with the drug. Today another article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association conveys similar findings adding more fuel to the fire. The article is based on an independent study of thousands of older people with diabetes and its findings show a significant increased risk of heart attack among those treated with Avandia.
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Concerns Prompt Two Healthcare Providers to Drop Avandia
Category: Avandia Heart Attack
Yesterday two U.S. pharmacy benefit services removed Avandia from their formularies due to safety concerns. Prime Therapeutics and HealthTrans made the decisions after careful analysis of safety data and efficacy analysis. This removal follows an October announcement by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs of a plan to restrict the use of Avandia. The drug was thrown into the public spotlight in May when a New England Journal of Medicine article linked Avandia to a 43 percent increased risk of heart attack. Since that time Avandia has received two "black box" warnings from the FDA, to inform consumers of potential risks.
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Avandia Linked to Bone Disease
Category: Other Avandia News
New studies have demonstrated a possible link between the popular diabetes medication Avandia and osteoporosis. Scientists say that in laboratory studies of mice, rosiglitazone, sold as Avandia, disrupts the balance between osteoclasts, cells that are constantly destroying bone, and osteoblasts, cells that continuously lay down new bone. This balance is necessary for healthy and strong bones.
Diabetes Suffers Get Good News
Category: Other Avandia News
This week diabetes patients received some refreshing news about new chemicals that may help control diabetes. With a summer full of controversy and warnings about the effects of Avandia this news must be music to the ears of diabetes suffers. Scientists at Sitris Pharmaceuticals in Massachusetts were able locate chemicals that mimic the effects of red wine. The key ingredient in red wine, resveratol, has been shown to protect against fatty diets and combat the aging process.
FDA Employee Wants Higher Standards New Drugs
Category: Other Avandia News
An FDA official has called for higher standards for new drugs in the wake of the Avandia controversy. Avandia has been linked to an increased risk of heart failure and heart attack by a New England Journal of Medicine article. The FDA responded to the alleged tie by placing the strongest warning available on Avandia, but allowed the drug to remain on the market.
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GSK Tried to Silence Doctor
Category: Other Avandia News
The British drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline has been bombarded with recent claims that its once blockbuster type-2 diabetes medication, Avandia, causes heart attacks. Apparently they have been hearing this type of sentiment about Avandia for years now, they have just managed to keep the voices silent. In 1999 Dr. John Buse, head of the diabetes center at the University of North Carolina, began expressing his concerns about cardiovascular risks associated with Avandia. A U.S. Senate Finance Committee report has alleged that Glaxo made attempts to stifle his remarks through intimidation.
Allegations of Intimidation From GSK
Category: Avandia Heart Attack
GlaxoSmithKline is facing fresh allegations detailed in a report submitted to the Congressional Record by high-ranking Senators, Baucus and Grassley. The report claims that GSK representatives made attempt to silence a university professor from speaking about his less than favorable opinion of the type-2 diabetes medication Avandia. John Buse claims that he was intimidated by employees working for GSK after raising concerns about possible cardiovascular risks associated with Avandia. Lawmakers are concerned that this could be a growing trend among big pharma and quick to protect whistleblowers from corporate pressure.
Glaxo's Avandia Hit With FDA's Toughest Warning, Again
Category: Avandia Heart Attack
Yesterday the FDA and GlaxoSmithKline agreed to add an additional warning on the diabetes medication Avandia. The new warning will advise patients of the possible increased risk of heart attack that has been associated with Avandia. In May an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggested that Avandia might be tied to a 43 percent increased risk of heart attack. While the study has not yet been confirmed, it also cannot be denied. The wording of the new "black box" warning suggest that the results of the studies are conclusive but merely warn of potential increased risk.
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Avandia Gets "Black Box" Warning for Heart Attack Risk
Category: Avandia Heart Attack
Today the FDA announced that they would be adding an addition black box warning to the diabetes medication Avandia. The move has been speculated about for several months now and today has finally been put into action. The new warning will warn of a potential increased risk of heart attack associated with the drug. A May journal article linking Avandia to a 43 percent increased risk in heart attack spawned the concern. The FDA urges patients with underlying heart conditions to consult their physicians to evaluate treatment options.
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FDA to Decide on Avandia Any Day Now
Category: Avandia Heart Attack
Over the past few months the controversy surrounding Avandia has been difficult to miss. The once blockbuster type-2 diabetes medication has been at the center of health concerns since a May New England Journal of Medicine article linked the drug to an increased risk in heart attack. In July the FDA convened a panel of outside experts that voted to allow Avandia to stay on the market, but placed additional precautions and a black box warning on the drug's label for risk of heart failure. The FDA is now considering an additional black box warning to make patients better aware of the potential risk of heart attack that may be linked to Avandia.
Glaxo CEO Says Avandia Can Rebound
Category: Other Avandia News
On Monday in a phone interview GlaxoSmithKline CEO Jean-Pierre Garnier said that he believes Avandia may not be as big of a disaster as everyone has made it out to be. It has been reported that the FDA is considering adding an additional black box warning and label changes to the drug in the near future. The once blockbuster medication's sales began to plummet after a May New England Journal of Medicine article linked the type-2 diabetes drug to a significant increased risk of heart attack, and there have been speculations of additional warning swirling since the first black box warning was added in July.
GSK Restricts Avandia Use
Category: Avandia Heart Attack
GlaxoSmithKline has placed new restrictions on the use of the once blockbuster type-2 diabetes medication, Avandia. The move is based on a Health Canada review, suggesting an increased risk of heart complications among some users. The new restrictions are in addition to those imposed by the FDA over the summer resulting from a May New England Journal of Medicine article linking Avandia to a 43 percent increased risk of heart attack in Avandia users.
Senator Probes FDA About Closed Door Vote on Avandia
Category: Other Avandia News
Republican Senator Charles Grassley wrote a letter to the FDA questioning if the there had been an internal vote of FDA experts earlier this month in regards to removing Avandia from the market. The alleged vote took place on October 2 and was participated in by 15 members of the FDA's Drug Safety Oversight Board (DSOB) with the decision to keep Avandia on the market narrowly winning by an 8-7 vote. The FDA set up the DSOB after harsh criticism ensued from the way the agency handled the recall of Merck's Vioxx.
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Second "Black Box" Warning for Avandia?
Category: Avandia Heart Attack
Today the Wall Street Journal reports that FDA is considering adding another "black box" warning, the strongest warning given by the FDA, to the type-2 diabetes medication Avandia. The drug already carries a "black box" warning for heart failure introduced just this summer, after a May New England Journal of Medicine article linked the once blockbuster medication to 43 percent increase in heart attack risks. Avandia sales have plummeted over the past few months and this new attention will undoubtedly deal an even greater blow to the already struggling Avandia market.
Avandia Access Restricted by VA
Category: Other Avandia News
The Department of Veteran's Affairs, commonly called the VA, has removed Avandia from their list of covered medications and will not provide new Avandia prescriptions. The VA will allow patients already taking the drug to continue use. In the past year the VA issued over 1.38 million prescriptions for Avandia, and the new decision will make an extensive impact on this number. The decision will likely place a sizable blow on the already volatile Avandia market.
Europe Increases Avandia Warnings
Category: Other Avandia News
Today the European Medicines Agency recommended tighter warnings to be placed on the type-2 diabetes medication Avandia. The agency did stand behind the drug saying that the benefits of the drug do outweigh the risks, and it will remain on the market. The UK based manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, has been under fire since Avandia was cited in May study to increase the risk of heart attack in recipients.
New Captain at the Helm for Avandia Makers
Category: Other Avandia News
Europe's largest drug company, GlaxoSmithKline, has announced that 43 year-old Andrew Witty will succeed chief executive Jean-Pierre Garnier in May. The decision was actually made at the end of last week when Witty was selected by the board of directors. Witty will have his hands full, with stock prices on the downslide and constant controversy surrounding the once blockbuster drug, Avandia. It will be under Witty's watch that the company will either continue to fall or be pulled back to its elite status.
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Pension Fund Takes Lead in Avandia Trial
Category: Other Avandia News
Over the weekend the Avon Pension Fund was appointed to be the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline. The UK based pension fund alleges that they were mislead by the pharmaceutical giant that failed to inform them of the heart attack risks associated with the type-2 diabetes medication Avandia.